Tips for traveling to Belarus by car. Traveling around Belarus by car. What documents are needed for Belarus by car?

Russians are frequent guests in Belarus. According to statistics, this country remains the most popular tourist destination from citizens of the Russian Federation. In addition, many people come here to visit relatives or friends, on business trips regarding production issues, or to establish business partnerships.

Minsk, Belarus

Local sanatoriums and boarding houses are also popular among Russians. Here you can relax inexpensively, improve your health in almost untouched nature and eat plenty of famous Belarusian milk.

Do you need a visa to Belarus in 2020?

Citizens of the Russian Federation are attracted to Belarus not only by its territorial proximity, but also visa-free entry to Belarus for Russians. From the moment of entry, they can stay in the Republic of Belarus for 90 days without a visa as part of a temporary stay. At the same time, Russians, unlike other foreigners, do not even need to register at their place of stay.

A trip to Belarus for a period of 3 months to a year requires Russians to obtain a temporary residence permit. To do this, you need to contact the Belarusian Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Republic of Belarus.

When going on a trip, Russians do not have to have one. Within visa-free regime It is allowed to cross the border with Belarus even with a general passport. Citizens of the Russian Federation are also exempt from filling out a migration card.

Crossing the Russia-Belarus border

Border control on the Russian-Belarusian border was abolished back in 1995 for citizens of both states. This was done after the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

When crossing the border, Russians are not required to have medical insurance for 10 thousand euros, which is mandatory for other foreigners. It should be taken into account that Belarus does not recognize Russian compulsory medical insurance policies. Russians can only count on emergency medical care free of charge in Belarusian hospitals.

By plane

At Minsk National Airport, flights from Russia are considered domestic. On this basis, border control of passengers is not carried out.

By train

Ride around railway takes place in comfortable conditions. Belarusian border guards do not disturb passengers, so they do not even notice how they got into a neighboring state. However, it is important to have your passport, birth certificates and other documents with you.

Crossing the border with Belarus by car

Those who choose a car to travel to Belarus usually do not even notice the moment of crossing the border. Cars are stopped for passport and customs control, only if their appearance or the driver’s behavior raises suspicion.

What documents are needed to travel by car?

When traveling by car, you must have a certificate of registration and a Green card (international insurance). The driver must be prepared to present a driver's license and passport; other passengers must present only foreign or Russian general passports.

Car insurance for a trip to Belarus - Green card

It is recommended to take out a Green Card international motor insurance policy in Russia. This is cheaper than buying it at the border, especially if you take coverage only for the CIS countries. A green card is required for all vehicles registered outside the Republic of Belarus. The absence of a Green card may result in a fine of 20 basic units (from January 2018 this is 20x24.5 = 490 Belarusian rubles).

Do you need medical insurance to travel to Belarus?

Medical insurance is not a mandatory document, but when traveling abroad, we always recommend purchasing it.

Documents for children

Children over 14 years old when traveling to Belarus must have their own passport. Until this age, a birth certificate is sufficient. When crossing the border, Russian border guards may also require permission from the parent who is not accompanying the child on the Belarusian voyage.

Customs regulations

Despite the fact that customs at the Russian-Belarusian border does not check tourists, you should still not violate customs regulations Belarus. In personal luggage, you are allowed to import up to 50 kg with a total value of up to 1.5 thousand euros.

It is allowed to import no more than:

3 liters of alcoholic drinks, including beer with a strength of 7%;
200 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco or 50 cigars.

It is prohibited to import into Belarusian territory:

military equipment;
weapon;
drugs;
explosive and radioactive substances.

Plants and animals are allowed to be imported only if there are veterinary certificates.

Temporary residence in the Republic of Belarus for Russians

Vitebsk, Belarus

Legislation allows Russians who came here to study, work or engage in entrepreneurial activities to stay in Belarus for longer than 3 months. Also, those who have Belarusian real estate or a spouse or relative from among the citizens of the Republic of Belarus permanently residing here can stay longer than 90 days.

To obtain a temporary residence permit, you must provide the following to the local citizenship and migration department:

Statement;
Passport;
Employment contract/certificate from university/documents of relatives;
Confirmation of place of residence;
Receipt for payment of state duty.

Belarusian officials review documents for 2 weeks. If the decision is positive, the stamp “Dazvol on hourly knowledge” will be affixed to the passport insert. It allows you to live in Belarus legally for a year.

Finally, be sure to watch the video from the Inter TV channel about the capital of Belarus - Minsk:

It’s an amazing fact that the sights of Belarus a month ago were not even considered in my rhythm of life, and I didn’t even think about traveling independently by car around Belarus to its monuments and interesting places.

But the circumstances were such that at the beginning of April I decided to go to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, for the weekend. And already in the process of preparing for this trip, the thought came to both the sights of Belarus and the possibility of traveling by car around this country.

Suddenly, school memories of the beauty of Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the legendary Brest Fortress came back to mind. After analyzing the Minsk-Brest route, I discovered many more interesting places that could easily be seen along the route by car.

This is how my life gradually developed excursion route, in which in just one week I was able to visit many amazing historical and modern places, walk through ancient parks and climb narrow stone stairs in the ancient towers of knightly castles, see many unusual representatives animal world and even meet a fairy tale in the person of such an unusual character as Santa Claus! 🙂

Well now, first things first... To find out about any excursion or tourist site For more details, please follow the link.

It was spring. Nature gradually came to its senses after its winter sleep. It was drizzling in the early April gloomy morning in the Moscow region. The airfield of Vnukovo airport and the planes getting wet on it also looked sad.

Flight UT835 on the Moscow-Minsk route from UTair departed as scheduled. At 10 o'clock in the morning we boarded a small plane. Outside the windows the Moscow morning was still gloomy, but in my soul, oddly enough, it was sunny and a little exciting about the unknown.

This always happens at the very beginning of a trip. And this is the feeling that probably attracts you on every journey.

The flight lasted only 1 hour 20 minutes, and I began to study in more detail the details of the preliminary route of my independent trip. I carried out the initial steps, such as transfer from the airport, renting an apartment in Minsk, and booking a car at home. But the entire excursion program was not yet thought out at all.

What can you see in Belarus by car? In front of me were interesting sights of Belarus and the general direction where I would like to go. And where I would stay, how long it would take to inspect each object, on what day I would end up in what place - it was still very vague.

Day 1-4. Hello, Minsk city

First impressions

And now I’m already there, in international airport Belarusian capital, Minsk. It is also cloudy here, but dry and warmer.

The first thing I decide to do is acquire local currency. Money in Belarus is a completely different matter. Receiving full millions for your Russian rubles... it's cool! You immediately feel like, if not Rockefeller, then at least his relative. 😀

Having given 10 thousand Russian rubles, I received almost 3 million Belarusian rubles in return.

It turned out that this is a very pleasant activity - “rustling” with millions. 😆

It's good to have friends! Especially in those places where you plan to visit. My old friend met me at the airport and very quickly took me to the capital, telling me as well as any guide about the main intricacies and secrets of Belarusian life. 🙂

The first feeling from the view outside the windows is amazing cleanliness! And this despite the fact that it is also still the off-season here, that is, fresh grass does not cover winter debris. There's simply nothing to cover here. In contrast to the Russian highways, it looks amazing!

We reached Minsk very comfortably, and I went to meet the owner of my rented apartment. I will tell you a little more about renting housing and a car, as well as about traveling by public transport and taxis at the end of this article.

I spent the first 4 days in Minsk: 2 of them were mainly devoted to studying, and the rest of the time I just walked around the city. I came to the apartment in the evening, just to spend the night. There was so much I wanted to see that I said to myself: “I’ll rest at home.”

Now let's move on to the sights. Additionally, all of them are indicated on the map at the bottom of this article; it will be easier to navigate what is where and how to easily get to each attraction.

And I’ll start my review of the trip with a trip to.

Walking around the city

Independence of Belarus

Perhaps it would be more logical to start from the main square of the city - Independence Square (or, as it is funny called in Belarusian, Independence Square). What beauty all around!

Over the course of its long history, the square has changed its name 14 times. Until 1991, it was, like all central city squares, Lenin Square. Now, decorated with fountains, it attracts the attention of tourists with its unique beauty. And locals love to stroll here in the evening, when the lights turn on and the square is illuminated with delightful light.

A huge shopping center with parking has been built underground here. Independence Square gives rise to Independence Avenue, which runs almost through the entire city. Here is the main building of the country - the Government House.

The first Belarusian skyscraper is how Minsk residents proudly and respectfully call this building. A seven-meter monument to V.I. Lenin still stands in front of the entrance. During the war, the monument was destroyed, but after the Germans surrendered it was quickly restored. And the building itself, like the nearby Catholic Church of Saints Simon and Helen, became one of the few buildings that survived the war years without much destruction.

Catholic church with a sad history

Nearby stands the Church of Saints Simeon and Helen, built entirely of red brick.

In memory of two children who died early from illness, it was built with their own money by inconsolable parents - Edward and Olympia Voinilovich. Once Elena saw this beautiful building in a dream, and in the morning she drew it. And now it is rightfully considered one of the decorations of the Belarusian capital.

If you're nearby, be sure to go inside. It is very beautiful and a little mysterious here. Beautiful sculptures, bronze details of the temple, superbly painted walls and vaults, amazing stained glass windows - all this creates a solemn atmosphere. And in combination with the music of the organ, one of the oldest in Europe, it’s simply an amazing experience.

The temple contains one of the seven copies of the Shroud of Turin. An extensive library of ancient books has been collected. The ashes of the founder of the church, Edward Voinilovich, also rest here. Right at the entrance there is a statue where Archangel Michael - the patron saint of Belarus - pierces the winged serpent of darkness with his sword.

Right there, very close by, is another monument, “The Bell of Nagasaki”, it was erected in memory of those killed in nuclear disasters. Very dramatic!

Belarusian Bastille

Now it is being implemented the death penalty for criminals - execution. Quite unusual: an execution in the center of a metropolis... although! “Crosses” in St. Petersburg, Lubyanka with its cellars in the center of Moscow...

Blessed place

Next, your attention will undoubtedly be attracted by the white stone.

This magnificent building was originally built as catholic church. But over time, after some repairs, it became Orthodox. In addition to other Orthodox shrines, the cathedral houses the icon of the Mother of God, now called the Minsk icon.

It was once written by the holy Apostle Luke. Many events happened in the life of the icon; she visited many churches. According to legend, the Svisloch River sailed to Minsk and was placed, not immediately of course, in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. And now this miraculous Image helps everyone who turns to it for help in difficult life situations.

And so I went to the prygazhuni embankment (that’s how the word “beauty” will sound in Belarusian) of Svisloch! How beautiful it is here!

The birds are singing, the sun is shining, making the water surface shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. Seagulls fly and scream, ducks swim near the shore. If you have a desire and a bun in your purse, you can feed them, then they will swim closer.

Beautiful weather and, what is immediately noticeable, the surroundings are perfectly clean and tidy! And not only here! It’s immediately clear that the wipers do their job conscientiously, and Minsk residents, of course, care about the cleanliness of their hometown. Well done!

Happy memory to the heroes!

A small shaped bridge leads to an artificial island located not far from the shore. A monument to soldiers who died on the battlefields has recently been unveiled here. At first, this monument was conceived as a tribute to those killed in Afghanistan.

But, unfortunately, there were many more terrible events in the world where Belarusian soldiers took part. This monument is dedicated to all of them.

The figurine of the little Weeping Angel is very touchingly made, crying inconsolably for those who died, who could not return to their beloved and loving wife, mother or bride.

Trinity Suburb - history and legends

Directly opposite there is a very beautiful place, which still retains the spirit of old Minsk. This Trinity Suburb— the historical center of the city.

There are a lot of benches to sit and breathe fresh air and a large number of all kinds of cafes and restaurants. And yet such beauty is hidden in the greenery of the trees.

“Girl with an Owl” is considered a symbol of the Trinity Suburb. The girl is holding an owl, and she herself is standing on a branch of a flowering fern, with a lizard sitting near her feet. The entire sculpture is located on a large stone, and two more lie nearby. There are only three - the town of Troitskoye.

By existing legend, it is at this point that every poet or artist must make a choice for himself what is more important to him:

a girl personifying the muse;
owl is a symbol of wisdom;
a flowering branch is a symbol of glory;
lizard is a symbol of monetary wealth.

What choice would you make?

And here’s another thing... Not far away is the city’s first public toilet. Yes, yes, sorry. I will now tell you why it attracts special attention. According to existing legend, in 1912 a very famous architect Sienkiewicz built a palace for a noble count. But he refused to pay, and did not pay a penny for the work.

Then the angry architect decided to take revenge on the greedy count and built a public toilet in Alexander Square with his own money. An exact scaled-down copy of that same castle. Now this small house sells tickets to the Yanka Kupala Theater. But from 1912 to 2012 - exactly one hundred years - it was used for its original purpose.

The pride of our contemporaries is the Belarusian “Diamond of Knowledge”

Of course, I really wanted to take a close look at the famous National Library of Belarus. This unusual structure really interested me.

Indeed, the shape of the library building resembles a cut diamond. “The Diamond of Knowledge,” as Belarusians also call it, contains 9 million book volumes. This unique building is equipped with the latest technology.

For children there is a playroom, and for adults there is a special room for relaxation, there is GYM's, cafe and restaurant.

At an altitude of 73 meters there is an observation deck from where you can admire beautiful views Minsk.

In the evening, the lights turn on and the façade of the building turns into a huge multi-colored screen. The spectacle is amazing!

Day 5. On the way to Brest

My training is completed, and the main attractions of Minsk have been explored. Now you can safely go on new adventures! The issue with renting a car was resolved very successfully the day before, and it is waiting for me under the windows of my rented apartment.

I will tell you details about renting housing, cars and other necessary things at the end of the article.

In the morning, having collected my things, casting a farewell glance at the awakening Minsk

and having said goodbye to the hostess, I leave Minsk in a rented car towards Brest. The main goal today is Belovezhskaya Pushcha, about which so much has been heard over the years of life back in the Soviet Union.

And just now mine old dream taking a walk through the protected forest and looking at live bison begins to come true. I described my route in more detail in.

In total, I have traveled 447 kilometers today. And here are the sights that we managed to see along the way.

Nesvizh - the patrimony of the Radziwills

Nesvizh Castle

Moving along an excellent highway, I turn towards Nesvizh, about which I have read many reviews.

And now, having covered 120 km from Minsk, I am there. In the city I am greeted by beautiful swans and the striking of the clock on the city tower in the city center. Every 15 minutes they remind you of the past time.

The small town of Nesvizh has been known for a very long time. But it began to develop especially quickly when it began to belong in 1533 to Jan Radziwill, a representative of the majestic, influential and very rich family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

For centuries, the Radziwills owned vast lands, towns and cities belonged to them. Kings without a crown - that’s what their compatriots called them.

Indeed, the Radziwills occupied the highest government and military positions. The opinion of representatives of this clan influenced the fate of the entire state. And the king himself could envy their untold wealth.

4 parks surround the Nesvizh Radziwill Castle. And each has its own history, its own specially decorated territory, its own monuments, original sculptures, its own legends.

So I took a walk in these parks.

It’s very beautiful, young leaves are blooming on the trees, the birds are singing.

But cold…

Brest Fortress - a citadel of courage

On June 22, 1941, the soldiers of the Brest Fortress were the first to come under fire from the Nazis and for more than a month, completely surrounded, without food or water, without medicine or ammunition, they held the defense, not allowing the Nazis to go further.

After the war, the fortress was not completely restored. To eternally remind descendants of the feat of the defenders of the Motherland, an entire memorial complex has been created here, and the Eternal Flame burns without going out.

On November 3-4, 2016, the memorial complex celebrated memorable dates. The Defense Museum is 60 years old! A GU Memorial complex“Brest Hero Fortress! - 45!

Brest – a city of unusual museums

There are also about 900 species of plants growing in the reserve, including rare and endangered species. Some trees are over 500 years old. 227 species of birds delight visitors with their beauty and iridescent singing.

But the greatest pride of Belovezhskaya is the bison living here.

Today, here is the largest population of these forest giants in Europe. And, among other things, I was surprised by the fantastically clean air in Pushcha. I have never seen such an amount of oxygen anywhere else! Just a fairy tale!

Belarusian Santa Claus lives here

By the way, there is a fairy tale here too! Believe it if you want, or better yet, check it, but here, in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Father Frost and his assistants live in his wonderful residence and happily receive numerous guests.

The good wizard's estate includes the owner's house with workshops where gifts are made; the house where the Snow Maiden lives; a magic well that makes wishes come true; windmill, grinding everything bad, sculptural figures of heroes from your favorite fairy tales and much, much more.

At any time of the year, guests are absolutely always welcome here. Previously, an incomparable spruce grew here for more than 120 years. Its height was 40 meters. Unfortunately, she died several years ago. But in her place a new young beauty has been installed. Children and adults enjoy dancing around it.

At the residence of Father Frost, you can take part in fun games and competitions, taste delicious potato pancakes and other national dishes.

You definitely won't be bored! So if you're in the area, be sure to stop by! Santa Claus lives about 10 km from the main entrance to the protected forest!

The way of life of a Belarusian family in the museum of the village of Pererov

The Museum of Folk Life and Ancient Technologies is another interesting place that I was able to visit here. It is located in the village of Pererov. This museum complex was created on the basis of an old 19th-century manor, which was restored in the spirit of that time and filled with things that no rural family could do without.

Every corner of the house used to have its own purpose. There were always icons in the house - the image of the Savior and the image of the Mother of God. Each family member had their own rights and responsibilities. Men and women have their own crafts. For example, in the museum, your attention will be drawn to an ancient loom for double weaving. This art is currently included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Belarus.

And here you will be treated to real moonshine. This is one of the few places in Belarus where moonshine brewing is officially permitted, and there is a license for the moonshine still installed here.

You will learn about all this, about the traditions and customs of our ancestors.

Day 8. Belovezhskaya Pushcha-Kossovo-Ruzhany-Synkovichi-Zhirovichi-Baranovichi

The time has come for me to leave this amazing natural reserve. Belovezhskaya Pushcha did not disappoint, but, on the contrary, enchanted me even more. And now I want to return there with even greater desire.

Well, my path now lies towards Minsk. But along the way, Belarus has prepared many more attractions for me. These are amazing and Orthodox shrines. It’s difficult to do everything in one day, so I’m planning to stretch my trip to the capital over 2 days.

During this day, I traveled 389 km from Belovezhskaya Pushcha to my overnight stay in the city of Baranovichi.

Kossovo Palace "Knight's Dreams"

And in Kossovo there is a castle that once belonged to the magnates Puslovsky. For its luxurious interior decoration and external grandeur it was called the “Knight's Dream”.

The palace had some features that made it unique and unique. For example, in the Main Hall the floor was glass. And you could see fish swimming under it. Under the floor there was a huge aquarium.

There was a lion living in the castle. At night, the owners let him out, and he moved freely throughout the palace.

Over the entire history of its existence, the castle was destroyed and rebuilt several times. It suffered severe damage in a multi-day fire during the Great Patriotic War. It is currently undergoing reconstruction, which is scheduled to be completed in 2018. But now!

Directly opposite, on the shore of the lake, stands the estate of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a national hero of the four countries he visited: Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and the USA, and also an honorary citizen of France. Now he would be called a professional revolutionary. The house in which he was born and lived for some time has been turned into a hero's museum.

This is a two-story house with 8 rooms. There is a huge stone near the house commemorative plaque in honor of Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The museum houses items found during excavations at this site that once belonged to the Kosciuszko family.

A collection of stamps dedicated to Tadeusz, a copy of his saber and other valuables. Here you can buy souvenirs, take part in various events and... get married. Yes, now you can officially register your marriage here.

By the way, this place is simply wonderful! Welcome to visit.

Ruzhany and its castle-fortress

But the town of Ruzhany, known since the 15th century. In 1598, it was bought by the famous politician, creator of the Statute - a set of laws of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Lev Sapieha. He built a grandiose palace here, which combined elements of a fortress and a luxurious castle.

The entire treasury of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the weapons arsenal, documents of state importance, food supplies and barrels of wine were stored in the huge basements of the palace.

The castle was rebuilt many times and changed owners. At one time, the pride of the palace was the presence of a theater within its walls. The theater troupe consisted of 60 actors and 40 musicians. The theater's productions were famous throughout Europe. The palace often hosted noble guests: kings, ambassadors of distant countries and other celebrities. According to legend, there was an underground passage that connected Ruzhany Castle and Kossovsky Castle.

Zhirovichi Monastery

For more than 500 years the Holy Dormition has existed monastery in Zhirovichi. And its story began with a small icon on a stone, which is currently one of the most revered in the world of Orthodoxy.

According to legend, once upon a time, shepherds saw an unusual glow in the crown of trees. It was a small Image of the Mother of God, which the shepherds took to the owner of the land. A little later, a temple was built on this site. This is how the history of the monastery began.

Today it is a whole architectural complex, famous not only in Belarus, but also far beyond its borders. Never in its entire long history has the temple closed its doors to pilgrims.

Now the complex unites 2 churches, a bell tower, the Theological Academy and Seminary and other adjacent buildings. A Pilgrim's House was also built, where people who come to pray to the miraculous icon will be able to rest and spend the night if necessary.

Well, my overnight stay today is planned in the city of Borovichi, where I booked an apartment. Tomorrow I will continue my route with renewed vigor.

Day 9. Mir Castle – history and modernity

In the Grodno region of Belarus, the Mir Castle, built in the 16th century, stands tall.

Construction was started by wealthy landowner Yuri Ilyinich. But after his death, his 4 sons also did not live long. One was poisoned, the other died of illness - this is how the Ilyinich family died out. And the Radziwills began to own the castle. But they, after some time, sold it. The last owner of the castle died in 1938, and since then it has been in a state of neglect.

A whole train of fantastic legends and scary stories it literally envelops the beautiful castle. This is the legend about a stone similar to the head of a ram, which, according to some laws of magic, is called upon to protect the castle and its owners; the story of a cut down garden and cruel reprisals for it; stories about ghosts, yes, there are more than one; and of course about the countless treasures hidden somewhere here. Here it is mysterious place exists in Belarus.

Do dudutki come from the word “dutki”?

In the afternoon I part with the car that I rented and which has been my faithful assistant for a whole week. Therefore, I am going on the next excursion as part of a tourist group.

While our bus travels to the museum complex, the guide talks about Minsk and other attractions of Belarus. How interesting it is to listen to him now, when I have just visited many objects in person, and the impressions are still so fresh! I enjoy plunging into my memories of my independent trip.

40 km from Minsk, in the Pukhovichi district there is Museum complex“Dudutki.” Here you can get acquainted with the crafts of our ancestors, try dishes according to ancient recipes, ride horses and even fly on an airplane.

There is so much on display here that it is impossible to do everything in the 2 hours allotted to us by the guide! Read on for details on how you can have fun at.

The time that I could devote to traveling around Belarus is over. It's time to go home. It’s a bit of a pity, I would like to stay here for a few more days - there are so many more interesting things to see! But nothing prevents me from coming here again, and maybe more than once.

What kind of passport do you need?

Do you need a passport to travel to Belarus? This is the first question that is probably asked by everyone who plans to visit Belarus for the first time.

The very good news is that Russians do not need a foreign passport to enter Belarus. Enough Russian. You also don’t need a visa when crossing the border; you don’t even need to put a stamp in your passport.

The only important point. If you are purchasing tickets, for example, for a plane, and specifying the details of a foreign document, then in this case you will need to present it when boarding. If the data is indicated from a Russian passport, then other identification documents will not be required for Russian citizens.

And for citizens of other countries, a visa can be obtained directly at the Minsk National Airport, having previously sent their documents here. But, of course, it is better to clarify all these questions in advance.

Where and how to rent housing in Belarus

It turned out that renting an apartment in Minsk is very simple. Through this you can book a room in numerous hotels, and on the service you can choose accommodation in any area of the city. By the way, it turns out to be much cheaper than a hotel room. And if you travel not alone, but in a company, then the benefits are very significant.

I rented a very cozy apartment in Minsk near the metro.

From here you could get to any point in the city by any means of transport, and in 20 minutes you could walk to the center. Hotels in this area were significantly more expensive.

But, having returned back to Minsk from my car trip, I booked the hotel ““. It was located far from the center, but its location and cost suited me quite well, since I could get around in a rented car without any problems.

In other cities of Belarus you can also rent housing, but here the choice will be smaller. Here is my apartment in the city of Baranovichi.

I liked its location: close to the highway. It was very convenient to spend the night and hit the road again in the morning.

Details about the amazing hotel on the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha, I wrote in detail in.

Transport in Minsk

Transport links in the capital of Belarus are excellent. There are buses, trolleybuses and numerous minibuses running around the city. There is also intercity communication. But I had no “communication” with this type of transport.

I enjoyed using the metro, which was the easiest way to get to any desired point in the city.

For a tourist entering the Belarusian subway for the first time, it is very easy to navigate: there are only 2 lines: red and blue. All stations are named quite clearly, although they are written in the local language.

It is also very convenient to use a taxi. They work on a meter, and if you travel short distances, you get 1 trip around the city within 200-300 Russian rubles.

I also ordered a return transfer to the airport. In this case, the taxi cost me 390,000 Belarusian rubles. (this is 1320 Russian rubles or 20 $)

You can get to Minsk National Airport and back more inexpensively by train (for only 25,000 Belarusian rubles). The advertising poster reports this.

In this case, you arrive from the airport to the Minsk railway station, from where you can get to your desired location in the city by public transport. The big disadvantage is that these trains do not run often.

Car rental in Minsk

Of course, the most convenient way to travel is by car, and in Minsk you can easily rent a car for any convenient period. After studying prices at different rental companies, I settled on a company with an optimistic name: “Maya the Bee.”

Why car rental has such an unusual name became clear later when I signed the rental agreement. It turned out that this office was registered under the name of the individual entrepreneur Pchelka Denis Viktorovich. These are the positive surnames in Belarus. 🙂

To get a car, you just need to have a driver’s license, make a copy of your Russian passport, and sign an agreement! Yes, and don’t forget to pay, of course! But not only the amount specified in the contract. There is also an additional deposit, which in my case amounted to 10,000 Russian rubles (it was returned at the end of the rental).

And now the keys to the silver Peugeot 206 are in my hands.

When renting a car, there were some surprises: the condition was to drive no more than 350 km per day. This is the first time I've heard this! Well, okay, in general, this suited me. I can't travel that far in a week. After all, the longest distances are from Minsk to Brest and back; all other sights can be seen along the way, only deviating briefly from the main route.

If, as a result, it would not be possible to meet these limits, then you would have to pay an additional $10 for every extra 350 km per day.

The cost of 95 gasoline in the country, on average, was 40 Russian rubles per liter ($0.6).

There was also unexpected news about rental conditions that I had not encountered before when booking a car abroad.

It turns out that the car must be returned perfectly clean or you will have to pay an additional $25 to the rental price. Fortunately, near the hotel where I lived last days, there was a car wash. And for $5 they washed the car perfectly. 🙂

How much does a vacation cost (results and prices)

This time, according to my subjective feelings, the final cost of the trip was quite high. No, prices in Belarus are quite acceptable, and in some places even lower than European and even more so Russian ones. It’s just that this time I traveled alone, so all costs were solely at my expense.

After all, for example, accommodation and car rental cost almost the same: for one or for two people. And the costs in the 2nd case are easily divided in half.

This is what I got for 10 days of stay in Belarus (I give prices in Russian rubles):

Accommodation:

Apartment in Minsk for 4 nights 6,560 rubles (1,640 rubles for 1 night);
for 3 nights 3,770 rub. (1260 RUR for 1 night);
Apartment in Baranovichi for 1 night 1,300 rubles;
for 2 nights 3,100 rubles (1,550 rubles for 1 night).

In Belarus, in any city there is great amount wide variety of housing options. It’s very easy to rent an apartment or room on the service, or book a hotel through the service.

Transport:

Air tickets Moscow-Minsk-Moscow - 8,980 rubles;
Car rental for 6 days 12,900 rubles (2,150 rubles for 1 day);
Gasoline 3,700 rub.

The length of my route by car was (total mileage) 1400 km, 90 liters of gasoline were spent.

Excursion program:

Entrance tickets to all attractions cost me 1,620 rubles.
Ordered excursions, including audio guides - 4,320 rubles.

And here are the results:

The money came and went, and now we no longer remember it. But the impressions of a great time were left! And this is the most important thing why people strive to travel! 🙂

The map below shows all the sights of Belarus that I was able to visit. You can see more details about each of them.

DAY 1: MINSK
We arrived in Minsk on a rainy morning in May and immediately headed to the VIVA hotel to leave our things. A huge plus of the hostel is that it is within walking distance from the station, quite convenient location. We booked our seats in advance because... May holidays everything is usually busy. The cost is about 600 rubles per person in a four-bed room.

If you check in before 12, you can leave your luggage in the luggage room.
The main disadvantage of the hostel is very little space. There is no separate kitchen, the refrigerator and microwave are located right in the hallway, and you have to have breakfast at low, uncomfortable coffee tables near the entrance and reception.

The bunk beds are very low, you cannot sit on the ground floor, you can only lie down. There are only two showers combined with toilets in the entire hostel, so getting to the toilet in the morning is quite difficult. The pluses are very good comfortable mattresses and friendly staff.
Last year I was also in Minsk, but we stayed at the Jazz Hostel. In Jazz there is much more space, spacious cozy kitchen, the cost was about 350 rubles. per person in a 9-bed room (it was not the season and we lived in a 9-bed room alone). But there is one significant disadvantage that outweighs all the advantages - it is very far from the center. First you need to go 20-30 minutes by tram to the final station, then walk through the private sector for another 10-15 minutes.

Having left our things, we went for a walk around the city with Zmitser. He is simply a wonderful person and an excellent guide who knows almost everything about Belarus. Zmitser (or Dima in Russian) studies at the Belarusian State University with a degree in History of Belarus, knows all the most interesting places, can answer any question about Belarus and loves his country so much that he infects those around him :-) It was he who invited me to see Belarus last year (then we went along the route Minsk-Gomel-Polotsk-Vitebsk), and I liked it so much, that I wanted to come back for this too. Here is a link to his page: http://by.holiday.by/gid/111

Since it was raining on the first day of our trip, Dima suggested a route that would be as indoors as possible.
Coming out of the railway station to the gates of Minsk and turning left, we found ourselves at the Belarusian State University at the Faculty of International Relations. Entrance to all Belarusian universities is free, and we calmly climbed to the very last floor (I think the 12th), where a wonderful panorama of the Station Square opens up (on the right is the railway station, on the left is the Minsk gate):

And from below the gates of Minsk look like this:

The gate was built in 1954, on each tower there are 4 sculptures: a worker, a collective farmer, an engineer and a soldier (the sculptures were dismantled in the 70s)

From the gate it is convenient to walk to the main square of the city - Nezalezhnosti (Independence) Square. On the square there is the Government House, the Belarusian State Pedagogical University, Lenin (what would we do without him!), the Main Post Office, the Red Church, and underground the Stolitsa shopping center, very reminiscent of Okhotny Ryad in Moscow.
BSPU building:

One of unusual places Minsk is the National Library of Belarus. According to the “Village of Joy” website, which evaluates the most amazing, interesting, fantastic and incomprehensible things in the world, the National Library in Minsk entered the TOP 50 most unusual buildings in the world and took 24th place. And according to the American magazineTravel + Leisure library included in the list of the ugliest buildings in the world.

Books inside the library move in small train boxes under the ceiling. When you walk in, you can’t even believe that you’re in a library. Travelers need to obtain a one-time pass using their passport. The building hosts many exhibitions, and there are excursions to the observation deck. But there is nothing special to see there - the building is located on the outskirts (Vostok metro station), there are only gray residential areas around). But the exhibitions can be quite interesting. Now the year of frugality is underway in Belarus, so the following posters are hung everywhere:

In the evening, the library building looks quite unusual, like a large New Year's toy:

DAY 2: MINSK
It’s great to walk around the center of Minsk - no matter where you turn, you’ll find something interesting everywhere.

It is especially interesting to walk around the Trinity Suburb, the historical center of Minsk. And although all the houses here have been restored and do not give the impression of being old, the atmosphere is still somehow special, not the same as in other parts of the city:

Near the Trinity Suburb you can ride a catamaran on the Svisloch River, it’s inexpensive, however, there are restrictions on where you can sail and where you can’t. And when we began to explore the route, it turned out that it was practically impossible to sail anywhere except around the Island of Tears.

The ducks followed us in the hope that we would treat them with something.

And the fishermen were happy to be photographed

We arrived at Easter

In Minsk, Orthodox churches coexist with Catholic ones, it seems that Catholics and Orthodox are approximately equal, although according to official data in Belarus, 80% are Orthodox and 14% are Catholics

IN mall on Nemiga (Nemiga is an underground river) there is still a Soviet atmosphere, as if from childhood. But for shopping, in my opinion, Belarus is not the best place. And although it is generally accepted that Belarusian things are of quite high quality (this is indeed true), the models are most often somehow outdated, as if from the Soviet Union, and it is quite difficult to find something truly beautiful (but if you set such a goal for yourself, it is possible) .

Summer, as you know, is the time for vacations, the very time when many decide where to spend their vacation time. At the same time, among the many “summer” destinations, the Republic of Belarus is becoming increasingly popular, where there is big number attractions, sanatoriums and recreation areas in the Braslav Lakes region.

In this regard, many car enthusiasts are interested in what features and difficulties those drivers who are planning to travel to Belarus by car may encounter.

Crossing the state border

Border control between Belarus and Russian Federation, in fact, is a fiction. Only heavy vehicles (trucks) are subject to inspection.

For individuals driving their own car, they do not even need to stop at the checkpoint. However, upon returning back to Russia, you may still be stopped to check your passports, which, however, does not take much time.

The only significant nuance when preparing for a trip is the purchase of international insurance such as a “green card”. This insurance policy is an analogue, but in an international format and can be purchased for a period from 15 days to one year.

At the same time, purchasing a policy for long terms costs significantly less than the “short-term” one. After the crisis, prices for “green cards” have increased slightly, but their cost remains very affordable - from seven hundred rubles to almost five thousand rubles for a policy valid for a year.

Up-to-date information on prices for green card insurance can be found on specialized websites - the information offered there allows you to fairly accurately calculate the cost of insurance for different travel dates.

At the same time, you can buy the policy itself either from the insurance company at your place of residence (by the way, not all insurers sell insurance of this type), or directly at the border - in front of each major checkpoint there is a huge number of small “representative offices” of insurers of the type “ booth”, where you can become the owner of the coveted policy. To obtain it, you only need a vehicle passport (PTS), and the procedure itself takes about ten minutes of time.

Otherwise, for the trip you will need a standard and general passport (as we already wrote, border guards may require it).

Driving on the roads, traffic rules and communication with law enforcement officials

Riding by Belarusian roads leaves, in most cases, a very pleasant impression on Russians. High quality pavement, clear road markings, timely repair of uneven surfaces are the first advantages that catch your eye. Even in rural areas(away from the main highways) the quality of the roads is pleasing.

Carrying out the road work itself is not annoying either - all narrowings of the roadbed have a full range of markings, and in the most difficult sections there are detour routes with temporary markings, which also differ high quality coverings.

From a driving point of view, driving in Belarus, at first glance, is no different from Russia. However, there are some nuances here.

In particular, the effect of a road sign extends not to the first intersection, but to the first designated intersection, that is, the one at which the corresponding sign is installed. This should also be kept in mind.

In the Republic of Belarus, it is very important to remember that priority goes to those drivers who are already moving in a circle, unless otherwise specified by road signs.

Speed control in the Republic of Belarus is very strict and can result in a number of problems for Russians who expect impunity. Thus, a fine for speeding, calculated in so-called “basic values”, can be very impressive.

In addition, a citizen who has violated traffic rules, no matter what country, is entered into a single database, and subsequent speeding by more than 25 kilometers per hour can result not only in a fine, but also in the deprivation of “rights.”

Separately, it is worth mentioning systems for automatic video recording of violations. There are quite a lot of “cameras” on the roads of Belarus; they are installed in almost every locality, next to which there is a corresponding designation.

The State Traffic Inspectorate of the Republic of Belarus uses very modern systems that take pictures from the rear of the car. Such complexes are practically not detected (the latter “detect” their activation only at the moment of direct passage and, as a result, do not allow the vehicle to be braked in a timely manner).

Previously, Russians may not have feared “chain letters”, but Last year the situation has changed radically. In particular, at the main checkpoints between Russia and Belarus, cameras are being installed that pre-record the license plates of passing cars.

If a car has a fine issued by the automatic system, traffic police officers will stop the car and may require payment of the fine before leaving the country.

Another important point is very severe sanctions against drivers who abuse alcohol. Initially, the driver's license is taken away from the driver who gets behind the wheel and a large fine is imposed.

A repeated violation leads to the fact that the traffic police confiscates the violator’s car, which turns into state revenue and goes under the hammer. Moreover, this law also applies to citizens of other states - there are corresponding agreements between Belarus and Russia.

Communication with employees of the State Traffic Inspectorate in Belarus also differs in some nuances. The main one lies in the fact that in most cases it will not be possible to hand over a bribe to a traffic police officer.

This was achieved in the republic because “traffic cops” have very good salaries and can easily get a real sentence without the right to subsequent work in government bodies if they try to increase their income at the expense of a car enthusiast.

However, on the most “popular” routes among Russians, there are rare cases (in three years of frequent trips, the author of these lines only encountered this once) of abuses by traffic police inspectors.

These abuses consist in the use of the laws of Belarus in relation to Russians who are not familiar with them. This applies to tinting on the rear windows, which, according to local law, is completely prohibited.

This aspect only concerns Vehicle registered in the Republic of Belarus, and if the inspector tries to impose an appropriate fine on you, you can safely invite him to go to the head of the traffic police of the relevant area or threaten to file a complaint with higher authorities.

This will be enough for the zealous servant of order to reconsider his decision. In fact, these difficulties are the only ones that you can encounter while traveling.

Main holiday destinations in Belarus

In most cases, Russians prefer to relax in the central part of Belarus, where most attractions and holiday resorts are located.

Braslav Lakes are no less popular, notable for their beauty and the presence of a huge number of health resorts. Slightly less popular Belovezhskaya Pushcha, which is due to its relative remoteness.

Regardless of the choice of travel destination, trips around Belarus leave favorable impressions, and tourism infrastructure in the republic is at a very high level.

When preparing for a trip to Belarus, we recommend

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